The standings became a mirror, requiring critical self-evaluation. If this is who the Rockies are — an assembly-required team with a painfully kid-heavy rotation — then there was no place for Jamie Moyer.

What was obvious after his last two starts on the road trip became fact Wednesday. The Rockies designated the 49-year-old Moyer for assignment, leaving them 10 days to trade or release him. Regardless, they are on the hook for the balance of his $1.1 million salary.

Moyer did everything asked of him, from pitching his way onto the team in spring training — he beat out Guillermo Moscoso and Tyler Chatwood — to mentoring everyone from Drew Pomeranz and Christian Friedrich to Double-A starter Edwar Cabrera.

Moyer made history April 17 as the oldest pitcher to win a major-league game. But keeping him in the rotation made no sense.

The Rockies’ future hinges on their young starters such as Christian Friedrich, who teetered and wobbled to a win Wednesday night, allowing 11 hits and five runs in six innings.

The Rockies defeated Houston 13-5 as Carlos Gonzalez had his first career three-home run game, but shortstop Troy Tulowitzki reinjured a groin and needed to leave the game early.

Even Moyer, who hopes to continue his career after spending a few days in California watching one of his sons graduate and play baseball, realized that the Rockies are about looking forward.

“It’s quite evident that we have struggled in the rotation,” Moyer said, graceful and classy in his exit interview. “They have guys with a lot of potential here. They need to start going deeper into games and let the bullpen breathe a little bit.”

It’s better to get them experience and fail than let Moyer get shelled every fifth day. Privately, Moyer had become bad for team morale. All you had to do was watch the body language of those behind him when he pitched. There was a feeling of helplessness, and at times, inexcusable defense.

When Giancarlo Stanton launched a missile that broke a scoreboard panel in Miami for a paralyzing grand slam, the end had arrived. There was no longer a margin for error. Just a window of defeat when he was on the mound. The feel-good story had given way to an uncomfortable reality.

Josh Outman is expected to start Friday in Moyer’s spot. He’s likely keeping the seat warm for Drew Pomeranz or Jorge De La Rosa, whose forearm gave him no issues during or after his most recent rehab start, an encouraging development for a team that needs a veteran starter soon.

Friedrich trudged through mud to survive, his start more reminiscent of the days of Kevin Ritz in 1996, when the goal was simple: Outlast the other guy. He did that, if only barely. Friedrich finished with the kind of line that was pre-humidor in its beauty. But he doesn’t have a glass jaw, and he walked only one hitter. Consider them baby steps.

That’s the thing about going young. Inconsistency is predictable. So are a few double shots of awful. The Rockies’ rotation has posted a 6.50 ERA this month entering tonight’s series finale against the Astros. But young pitchers also can run off two weeks of amazing. That wasn’t going to happen with Moyer in the rotation.

The decision with Moyer also resonated in the clubhouse. Players appreciated his impact but are ready to see what the young arms, for better or worse, can do.

Troy is a former Denver Broncos and Colorado Rockies beat writer for The Denver Post. He joined the news organization in 2002 as the Rockies' beat writer and became a Broncos beat writer in 2014 before assuming the lead role ahead of the 2015 season. He left The Post in 2015.

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